Alton Main Street Newsletter September 2024
Director’s Note ~
Alton Main Street thanks the 1,500+ people who took our survey in preparation for our strategic planning session with Main Street America. We appreciate our community’s input as we turn our collective vision into action Downtown! CLICK HERE to find a PowerPoint presentation of the survey results.
The City-Wide Litter Clean-Up is Sat, 9/14! Stop by our station at the corner of 3rd & Belle from 9am-Noon to pick up bags, gloves, a donut, and directions to areas in need of attention. To adopt an area or for more information, please visit https://prideincorporated.org/litter.
~ Sara McGibany, Executive Director
The 18th Annual Mississippi Earthtones Festival is returning to the riverfront on September 21st!
MEF, presented by Alton Main Street, the Sierra Club, and Jacoby Arts Center, is a celebration of our river through art, music, and conservation! This year’s event falls on Sept 21st and will be held at Alton Amphitheater from Noon-10pm. Dozens of local artists and upcyclers will offer their nature-inspired, hand made, and environmentally-friendly wares. Several agencies will be teaching festival-goers how to incorporate more sustainable practices into their daily lives.
Live music will fill the air, and our entertainment line-up features: Jake’s Leg – Grateful Dead Tribute (7-10pm), Aaron Kamm & the One Drops – Roots Reggae & Mississippi River Blues (3-6pm), Ahna & the Couch Burners – blues, jazz, classic rock, and reggae (Noon2pm), and between each act Jason “Gordo” Gordon 1- Man, 10-Piece Band (2-3pm & 6-7pm).
New this year, A fun recreational paddle on the Mississippi River called the Great Rivers Rendezvous is being coordinated by the Mississippi River Water Trail Association on the morning of the festival. Participants can choose from three launch points departing 3 miles, 7 miles, or 12 miles upriver, and all participants will finish at Alton’s Riverfront Park to enjoy the festival afterwards. Full details can be found at www.MississippiRiverWaterTrail.org.
Jacoby Arts Center has lined up an amazing arts playground featuring interactive art experiences, activities at the MAC art bus, performances, live painting and more. This year’s theme of “Emerge and Be Heard” will be present throughout the grounds. Local artists will fill Riverfront Park with beauty and creativity, enhancing the festival atmosphere for visitors. The Riverbend Yarn Bombers have been busy creating a colorful Grannie’s Green House, the first time they have created a freestanding structure—it’s sure to be a hit! Come hungry because there will be a huge selection of local food & beverages on site. The Old Bakery Beer Company has created a special Earthtones IPA for the occasion which will be available at the brewery and the festival!
Volunteers are needed— CLICK HERE to sign up for a shift and receive a free limited edition festival t-shirt ~ you can check out this year’s shirt design on the sign up sheet!
CLICK HERE to RSVP and spread the word on Facebook
Alton Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market
Alton Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market 8am-Noon Every Sat through October 19th (Landmarks Blvd. & Henry St.)
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
8/31 – Artist demo: Riverbend Yarn Bombers
9/7 – Artist demo: Live Painting with Lou Ann Branz
9/14 – Blaque Berry Puppet Show with Daniel Romano
9/21 – Nutritional Scavenger Hunt with Abigail Parker, Nutritional Therapy Practitioner
9/28 – Live music with Diamond Duo & an Obstacle Course with Blue Wave Spirit Martial Arts
Mark your calendar for the return of the Canine Carnival on 10/5, and get your tickets for Goat Yoga at the Market on 10/19 before they sell out ~
CLICK HERE to reserve your spot!
Walk for Sickle Cell at Rock Spring Park
On the morning of 9/21, lend your support for a great cause at the 12th Annual Walk for Sickle Cell At Rock Spring Park. Registration begins at 8am, followed by the a one mile walk at 10am. Lunch will be provided and there will be awards, prizes, and giveaways for participants. For more information please visit www.APreciousOrganization.org.
Double Your Buying Power at the Market with DoubleBucks Match!
Grant funding is available to double the buying power of SNAP benefits! Thanks to a LinkUP Illinois grant from The Experimental Station, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients can double their buying power for fresh fruits and veggies. Visit our info booth to swipe your SNAP card where you can have an unlimited amount matched!
The Alton Little Theater has BIG News
Eric Sykes will take on the role of Executive Director as of 1/1/25. Lee Cox, who will be staying on in a mentoring and Directing role, and Artistic Director Kevin Frakes, who will retire at the end of the year, are proud to “pass the torch” to another gifted theater professional. Eric said, “I’m excited not only to build on the theater’s strong foundation of artistic excellence but also to explore new ways to expand our reach and footprint in the community and the entire metro region.” Show times, audition info, tickets and more are available at: AltonLittleTheater.org or 618-462-3205.
Alton Jazz & Wine Festival
Alton Expo
The community is invited to the Alton Amphitheater for the 2024 Alton Expo! Enjoy fair food, carnival rides, live entertainment, games and more. Admission is FREE!
5:00-10:00pm – Thursday, September 5
Polly and the Pocket Performs at 7:00pm
5:00-11:00pm – Friday, September 6
Maxa Performs at 5:00pm
Dirty Muggs Performs at 8:00pm
Noon-11:00pm – Saturday, September 7
Alton Catfish Classic
Almost Famous Performs at 7:00pm
1:00-5:00pm – Sunday, September 8
Porch Cafe Performs at 1:00pm
Alton Catfish Classic
Big Fish Alert! The Alton Catfish Classic will be held on Sat, Sept 7th. This is fishing tournament with huge cash prizes! Register online with Bluff City Outdoors or visit their location at 2813 E. Broadway in Alton.
Alton Pride Festival
The third annual Alton Pride Festival will be held on September 14th from 11am-8pm on Belle St. between 4th & 7th! The festival is free and open to all and will feature performances by: Porch Cafe, Mz Goldie, Comedian Izzy Salhani, Drag Performers and more!
CLICK HERE to RSVP and help spread the word on Facebook.
The Downtown Chili Cookoff is back and looking for teams!
Join us for this “hot” event! This year’s cook-off will be held on Sun, October 27th from Noon until 3:00 p.m. at The Renaissance X, located at 401 Piasa St. in Alton, IL. Live music will be provided by The Buzztones & Number4Combo!
Tickets will only be available at the door: $10.00 for adults & $5.00 for kids 12 & under. Your ticket gains you a 2-ounce sample of chili from each contestant. The Chili Cook-Off is a great civic event that encourages local chili experts to match their favorite recipe with others in similar categories. We look forward to greeting returning teams and welcoming new participants to this fiery competition.
We will award $100 prizes to winners in 4 categories: Individual, Organization, Business and Restaurant. The team chosen as “People’s Choice” will receive the coveted silver ladle and bragging rights. In addition to awards for the best chili, we are also giving a $100 prize for the best-decorated booth, so come prepared to put your theme as well as your chili on display! Teams can choose an electric set-up (crock pot, roaster, etc.), or a gas set-up (propane stove or grill).
CLICK THIS LINK TO REGISTER A TEAM
We hope that you will join us as we raise funds to support beautification efforts in Downtown Alton. We are also offering sponsorship opportunities (which include tickets to the event!) for local businesses who would like to support this community tradition in a big way. See the team registration form at the link above for full details. If you have any questions, please contact info@altonmainstreet.org!
Tinner’s Anvil American Handwork
We are excited to announce the reopening of this great shop that had previously been located on Langdon St., and is now reopening in a freshly renovated space right on the main drag at 550 E. Broadway! Tinner’s Anvil features antiques and specializes mainly in country furniture from 1860-1920. They carry primitives and unique pieces. Hours will be Fri & Sat 10am-4pm, and Sun from Noon-4pm. Proprietor Dennis Scarborough invites you to his grand opening which will be held on Fri, Sept 6th!
Persnickety by Jen Farley
We welcome an exquisite new shop to Mineral Springs Mall, located at 303 E. Broadway! Persnickety features a carefully curated blend of vintage, antique and contemporary home decor and furniture for those of particular taste. The shop got its start as a vendor at Honeybee Vintage, and 9/8 is opening day in their very own space!
Honeybee Vintage
Mondays are for Mom in our children’s resale Beetique! Every Monday in September, buy 3 items, get 1 free! Sweet deals on back-to-school necessities. Boutique and better brands, newborn to teen, excellent used condition or new with tags. Mark your calendar for every Monday in Sept with new arrivals weekly! (Clothing, shoes, accessories, backpacks, books, toys, etc…EVERYTHING except online store and custom onesies.) Honeybee Vintage includes 20 sellers offering vintage, antiques, upscale resale, local art, clothing, jewelry, and more! Visit us Mon-Sat from 9-5 & Sun from 12-5 or online at honeybeevintagealton.com.
Riverbend Growth Association
On Fri, Sept 20th from 11am-4pm at Enjoy Church join the RBGA for their annual LeadHERship Seminar on women’s issues. Participants receive valuable information, network with businesswomen, and have the opportunity to visit local vendor booths. To register, visit GrowthAssociation.com/seminar. We can’t wait to empower, inspire, and uplift YOU!
Senior Services Plus
September is National Senior Center Month! Celebrate with us by meeting new people at Speed Connections on Fri, 9/20. This event gives older adults (55+) the opportunity to create new friendships or potential romantic relationships by taking turns speaking with each other at timed intervals. The cost is $10 to participate—all proceeds go to United Way. Get to know SSP on Tues, 9/24 at our annual Open House. Meet SSP staff and learn about the 14 services and programs available to the older adult community. It’s still warm outside, but cooler temperatures are around the corner. Attend Making Your Home More Energy Efficient Ameren Presentation on Wed, 9/25 and learn how to increase comfort and reduce energy costs in your home!
Riverbender Building
Centrally located in the heart of Downtown Alton at 200 W. 3rd Street, with 8 small office suites available from $400 per month, the Riverbender Building is one of the most budget friendly options for commercial rental space! Building features include free Wi-Fi, conference room, rooftop terrace and flexible lease terms. Find details and take a virtual tour at RiverbenderBuilding.com
Alton Apartments For You
Qualified applicants who move in this month will receive November’s rent free! Walk-in tours are welcome at 112 Manor Ct B. Contact Us at: (618) 465-8708 or leasing@altonrentals.com.